The embattled Zambian Railways board has been dissolved and Minister of Transport Christopher Yaluma has announced that today’s press briefing had no blessing of government.
Yaluma said Sunday, April 21, 2013 that the board was dissolved last week on Thursday following differences that has rocked the corporation. He said government will set up another board.
The board was headed by Mark Chona who was deputized by Oliver Saasa, with members – Geoffrey Mulenga, Irene Mbewe and Jonam Mwansa.
There has been ragging wrangles between the board and Managing director Prof. Clive Chirwa who has accused the board of corruption. He said the Board was demanding to be paid K500 million sitting allowance.
While the board yesterday denied demanding to be paid K500, million per seating. The board has however accused Pro. Chirwa of making high financial demands from the struggling rail transport.
The board accused Prof Chirwa of having been demanding $560 000 annual salary, six for two annual return tickets for his wife to UK/Europe. He is also accused of having refused to move to Kabwe where the Zambia Railways Head Office is located saying he wants it moved to Lusaka which is against President Michael Sata’s earlier directive.
Prof. Chirwa is also accused of drawing monthly rentals amounting K72million for his Fallsway Luxury Apartment which was not sanctioned by the board.
Railway services play a very big role in any country’s developmental process.Can be .profitable too.The question is what type of individuals or entities should run this important sector on our behalf?
I hope proper decisions and channels will be followed to put this mess in place especially that the euro bond is heavily invested in this project of which if not properly handled can lead us into another debt crisis of the last decade where we had to sign up to SAP and HIPC programmes.
Turn of events at Zambia Railways: The press briefing slated for this afternoon by the Chona led board has no government blessings as the board is dissolved – Transport Minister Yaluma